“Tobacco use led to almost six million deaths in 2011, according to new research released … on Monday, of which nearly 80 percent were in low- and middle-income countries,” Inter Press Service reports. “Such trends, fueled by tobacco industry tactics, are having a ‘devastating’ impact on the global economy, health and development,” according to the “Tobacco Atlas,” which tracks tobacco use worldwide, the news service writes, noting, “Overall, a billion people are expected to die due to tobacco use over the course of the 21st century” (Biron, 10/15).

In related news, the Wall Street Journal reports on legislation in Russia “that would establish nationwide smoking restrictions similar to those seen in much of the West — such as limits on advertising and smoking in restaurants — [which] is expected to be submitted to parliament on Nov. 1 for a vote early next year” (Alpert, 10/15). According to the WHO, 39 percent of the Russian population are regular smokers, Bloomberg Businessweek notes (Kravchenko/Meyer, 10/16).